As a student a part of society that It is crucial that we cut down the production and consumption of meat and dairy to reduce the number of factory farmed animals and to prevent further destruction of our environment. 

Did you know that the livestock sector alone accounts for 14.5  to 16.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions representing a significant burden on climate? 

Beef production, which is the top driver of deforestation, accounts for 41% of deforestation in the world’s tropical forests. Every year the world loses around 5 million hectares of forest!.On a global level, dairy production causes one third of all GHG emissions of livestock farming. 

According to the most recent climate change report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts and tropical cyclones.  

To help prevent further disasters, to mitigate the climate crisis and to decrease the number of suffering animals in factory farms.

While we are seeing some promising changes in the food industry expanding their plant-based foods, with more meat and dairy substitutes, we need long-term commitments towards binding meat and dairy reduction goals. These changes should not include an increase of other animal-derived products, but instead include more investment towards innovative plant-based food products to help end factory farming and to prevent climate-related disasters. The planet is counting on us!

To help end factory farming, I call on the food industry to urgently reduce their production of meat and dairy products, push for high animal welfare standards and increase plant-based alternatives!